JPH07303699A - Device to contain end of injecton needle in lateral direction,attachment device for sharp end of needle,and safety system for subcutaneous injection needle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a disposable safety system to prevent careless punctures by an injection needle. CONSTITUTION: A disposable safety system is constructed that a needle pointed tip is received and placed horizontally in an inner chamber 14 extended lengthwise in the system's main body member 12. The inner chamber 14 includes a gripper 16 with a surface made of high frictional material to prevent the needle to be drawn out after the needle is once fixed in there. The gripper structure includes a rectangle plastic-made structuring element having two flat parts hinged by a hinge 32. The gripper 16 has a pair of lips 30 to engage a plurality of ratchet teeth on the inner wall of the chamber 14 of the main body member. The lips 30 prevent the gripper 16 to shift vertically upward in the inner chamber 14, and form a one-way ratcheting effect cooperating with the ratchet teeth.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the field of protective devices used in the disposal of hypodermic needles to prevent the inadvertent spread of disease, and more specifically in the disposal of used needles. With respect to the safety device used, the safety device is an infectious substance in which the pointed end of the needle inadvertently punctures a hand or other body part and is retained in the blood or other body fluid contained in the used needle. To prevent inadvertent spread of the disease,
Insert the pointed end of the needle so that it is completely covered.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Concerns over the inadvertent spread of blood carrying infectious diseases such as the HIV and HBV viruses have led to major changes in various medical procedures practiced in hospitals, clinics, dentists and the like. ing. One such concern concerns the use and disposal of needles and the like. This is because there is a very high risk that needles already exposed to blood or other bodily fluids, including infectious diseases, will inadvertently stab hands or other body parts.
For this reason, there are US patents in the prior art which disclose various different means for preventing inadvertent puncture of a hand or other body part by a used needle. None of these prior art patents ensure that the needle, such as a medical professional such as a doctor or nurse, or anyone handling a discarded needle, inadvertently contacts the pointed end of the needle. Disclose at least one device for covering and protecting the needle after use and prior to disposal. Of course, contact with the needle will penetrate the skin and allow infectious blood or other body fluids to enter the person's body. In this sense, the new work done by the inventors herein refers to the following U.S. patents, to varying degrees, which appear to be involved in the invention.

US Pat. No. 5,046,612 to Mostarda et al. Relates to a safety device for withdrawing a hypodermic needle from a syringe. With reference to this U.S. patent, the device comprises a horizontally arranged rigid container 1 having an elongated configuration, and V-shaped notches 2 respectively provided above the boundary between the front and rear ends. And 2'and rigid flaps 3 and 3'joined together in notches 2 and 2 '.
And placed in the convergent zones of the rigid flaps 3 and 3 ',
And an elongated slot 4 having an extension 7 and an opposing boundary of the extension 7 to release the rear end of the hypodermic needle 5 that is withdrawn from the seat in the nozzle of the syringe. It includes a protrusion 10 for preventing and a slot 9 projecting downward from the tip of the notch 2. The slot 4 is adapted to receive a hypodermic needle, and an extension 7 adapted to pass through an enlarged posterior end or cone 8 of the hypodermic needle.
And a plurality of tooth-shaped projections 12 and 12 'are provided on both boundaries of the slot 4 so as to overlap each other.

United States Patent No. 4, to Abrams et al.
No. 917,243 relates to the needle discard device. With reference to this patent, this disposal device 1 comprises a container part, a holding means and a U-shaped opening 5, the container part being provided near the upper surface of the container part and having an axial length of the container part. Having an elongated slit 3 extending along it, the retaining means comprises a pair of opposed flaps 4 extending a distance into the slit 3, and an opening 5 for receiving the neck of the syringe for separating the needle from the neck of the syringe. It is provided at one end of the container.

US Pat. No. 4,643,722 to Smith, Jr. relates to a hypodermic needle closure system. With reference to this patent, the system has an elongated slot 30 formed therein to extend an elongated closure portion 20.
An axial hole 44 that interlocks with the slot 30, a closed upper end 40 and an open lower end 42, and a lower end 4
2 adjacent to the radial extension 36 and a portion 38 below the extension 36 and having a cylindrical shape to facilitate engaging the closure portion 20 with the needle insert hole for retention.
Including and As shown in FIG. 9, the slot 30 allows the needle 4 to be inserted laterally into the closure portion 20.

US Pat. No. 5, Kennedy et al.,
No. 084,028 relates to a needle cover dispenser. With reference to this patent, the device includes a dispenser 10 having an internal cavity 12 for receiving a plurality of needle covers 14. Each needle cover 14 holds an internal cavity 24 for accommodating the needle and the base of the needle and holds the needle in the needle cover 14.
It has an inlet aperture 22 through an internal cavity 24 having inwardly angled upper and lower teeth 28 for fixation therein, and a wedge-shaped slit 26 on the opposite side that houses a needle wing 31.

US Patent to Leishman
No. 4,848,569 relates to a device for the disposal of contaminated needles. With reference to this patent, the device 10 includes a passage 3 having an upper opening 32 and a lower opening 33, respectively.
1, and an elongated housing 30 extending along the passage 31 between the openings 32 and 33 and defining an outwardly open channel 34, and a plurality of shields 12 disposed in the passage 31. Including and Shield 12 is retained in passage 31 by strips of adhesive 41 and 42, respectively, releasably placed on top opening 32 and bottom opening 33. The shield 12 is made of a suitable material that allows the tip of the hypodermic needle to penetrate therethrough. When the device 11 is ready, the user can open the upper opening 3
All that is required is to remove the strip of adhesive 41 placed on top of the 2.

Many prior art attempts disclosed above to solve the problems described herein are functionally capable of achieving the result of protecting the human body from the needle intended by the inventor. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that a hospital or doctor or dentist can actually use it because of one or more significant defects. As an example,
Any of the above prior art disclosures in which the syringe itself has to be structurally altered would be disadvantageous as such modifications to the syringe would be costly. Furthermore, the prior art designed to use needles of certain diameter or length is disadvantageous. This is because devices of various sizes must be available to accommodate needles of different sizes. Even a device that does not require a change in the structure of the syringe and can accommodate needles of all sizes is still disadvantageous due to the high cost due to the complexity of shape, structure or material. This is because such a device can only be used once and then discarded with the needle. Is there a way to actually use a device that uses needles and that greatly increases the cost of needle disposal?
Or it is likely to add to the overall cost of healthcare, which is already tight. Therefore, there is still a need for a disposable safety device for use with a syringe needle that does not have one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art described above. More specifically, there is no need to change the structure of the syringe, it does not depend on the length or diameter of the needle, or the size or shape of any other part of the syringe, and it does not significantly increase the cost of medical treatment, So the hospital,
There is a need for a safety device that is a relatively simple and low cost design that is likely to be used by doctors, dentists, etc.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above need by providing a disposable safety device for needles and the like, and in a first embodiment, the safety device is a wedge in the body member. The tip of the needle is adapted to be received in the mold or V-shaped internal chamber. The interior includes a gripping device consisting of a high friction surface which laterally receives the injection needle and prevents it from being removed after it has been secured in the manner described in more detail below. . In a preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the gripping mechanism inside the body member comprises a thin or rectangular plastic component having two planar members joined by an active hinge, the hinge comprising the component. Allows the components to be folded in half so that they conform to the inner shape of the body member and close on the needle. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, a layer of grit sandpaper is placed on the folded interior surface of the gripper component to increase frictional engagement with the needle. 1 gripper component
A plurality of lips having a pair of lips horizontally disposed on the inner wall of the chamber of the body member such that the gripper and the sandpaper are pushed by the needle toward the bottom or apex of the V-shaped interior of the body member. Designed to engage the groove of the gripper, the lip prevents the gripper from moving vertically upwards therein, thus cooperating with the groove within the body member to provide a one-way pawl effect. The gripper and sandpaper combination also moves horizontally within the inner wall surface of the body member in one direction by a shoulder and in the other direction by a face member secured to the body member and providing an elongated opening. And the opening is wide enough to receive the needle but narrow enough to prevent the gripper and sandpaper from moving towards the face member. Except for the sandpaper used in this preferred embodiment, all elements of the present invention may be made from relatively inexpensive plastics such as styrene which may be injection molded. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of safety devices are included within the dispenser, the dispenser conveniently containing a number of such safety devices and while the needle is inserted into the safety device for disposal. To further reduce the risk of the needle accidentally sticking to a hand or other body part, it serves the dual purpose of allowing the user to grasp the dispenser rather than the safety device.

The second embodiment of the invention disclosed herein uses a two-part design, which is particularly advantageous for low cost injection molding fabrication using a simple and convenient assembly. Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment uses an internal chamber having vertical and parallel walls of uniform cross section from top to bottom. However, the three pairs of opposed ratchet teeth of increasing thickness from the top of the chamber to the bottom provide the effect of closing with the wedge inside the V-shape of the first embodiment. An elongated flange integral with the upper edge of the chamber wall prevents the gripper from lifting up from the top of the chamber. The gripper has a pair of top lips for engaging the flange and ratchet teeth. The gripper also has a plurality of elongated horizontal internal ridges adapted to engage the needle.
The inner surface of the gripper may also be coated with sandpaper-like particles to further increase the needle grip friction. Such needle guards are inexpensive, simple to manufacture and assemble, and easy to handle with one hand. In addition, the ratchet effect is obtained due to the compression of the lip by the ratchet teeth, which ensures that the walnut splitter grips the needle tightly and firmly as it compresses the nut shell.

[0011]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to inadvertently prick a hand or other body part with a used needle that may carry an infectious disease from the blood or other liquids contained therein. It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable safety device for use in an injection needle or the like in order to prevent it from collapsing, and the safety device of the present invention is used regardless of the size of the needle, and does not require any change in the structure of the syringe or the needle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a disposable safety device for a needle, which safety device is made from a relatively inexpensive plastic material which can be injection molded in mass production to reduce costs. To be

Yet another object of the present invention is to use the minimum number of parts made from cheap plastic and to laterally insert the needle tip into the present invention to discard the needle tip. It is to provide a disposable safety device used for an injection needle or the like by further using a design that enables

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a safety system including a plurality of disposable safety devices for use with a used needle, the safety device being provided in a dispenser, the dispenser comprising: In order to easily store a plurality of such safety devices and to reduce the risk of accidental needle sticks, the user's hand and the injection needle may be separated while inserting the needle into the safety device using only one hand. It serves the dual purpose of providing a way to further increase the distance.

The above objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully understood by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a disposable safety device 10 of the present invention comprises a syringe 7 to a typical needle 5.
Designed to receive. The safety device 10 of the present invention also includes a body member 12 within which the internal V
A slot 13 communicating with the mold chamber 14 is provided, and a gripper 16 is provided in the V-shaped chamber 14 inside.
Further, it can be seen that the inner chamber 14 of the body member 12 has a generally V-shaped cross section, the apex of which is adjacent to the bottom end of the body member 12. It can also be seen from FIG. 1 that due to the V-shaped or angled interior of the body member, the needle is inserted through slot 13 and gripper 16
When pushed downwardly through the sides of the body member toward the tip of the body member, the gripper is progressively pushed between the inner side walls of the body member, thereby gripper 16 and needle 5
Strengthen the grip with.

As seen in FIG. 2, the gripper 16 comprises a generally rectangular planar member having a thin or active hinge along its central portion, which gripper 16 may be folded in two at the central portion. The inner surface of the gripper is provided with a plurality of sawtooth notches 19 for enhancing the grip effect on the injection needle. In addition, a sandpaper element 18 is inserted along the inner surface and adhesively secured to further increase the frictional engagement between the gripper and the needle. A lip 30 is provided on each of the upper ends of the bent grippers, the lip 30 being a pointed line end designed to interact with a plurality of elongated grooves 28 in the inner wall of the body member 12. It becomes the edge. The interaction of the lip 30 and the groove 28 provides a ratchet effect which allows the gripper to be further inserted into the V-shaped interior 14 of the body member 12, but in the opposite direction of the gripper, i.e. the slot 13. Movement toward the upper portion of the body member adjacent to is blocked.

As seen in FIG. 2, the safety device 10 also includes a face member 20 designed to cover the front surface of the body member.
To provide. More specifically, the face member 20 has a plurality of nipples 24 extending therefrom, and the front surface of the body member 12 is provided with a corresponding plurality of receptacles 26 for receiving the nipples 24. Further, the surface member 20 is
The body member 12 has an opening 22 that is narrower than the cross section of the V-shaped interior 14 and extends long. The opening 22 is designed to allow the injection needle 5 to be inserted into the V-shaped interior 14 of the body member 12, but is narrow enough to prevent the gripper 16 and the sandpaper 18 from exiting the body member. is there. The gripper 16 and sandpaper 18 are also prevented from slipping out of the face member 20 due to the shape of the inside wall of the V-shaped interior 14. More specifically, as shown in the top view of FIG. 4, the body member 12 comprises a thin portion 15 of the wall where the gripper resides and a thick portion 1 of the wall behind the gripper 16.
7 and. Shoulder 34 is formed at the transition from thin wall portion 15 to thick wall portion 17. Shoulder 3
4 prevents the gripper 16 and the sandpaper 18 from moving backwards.

As best shown in FIGS. 3A and 5, before the needle 5 is inserted into the safety device 10, the gripper and sandpaper are located at the top of the V-shaped interior 14,
At this time, the gripper 1 is located at the top of the V-shape.
The distance between the 6 lips is the widest. In this position, the gripper has the needle 5 of the syringe 7 laterally, parallel to the slot 13,
The needle 5 is received after being inserted toward the tip or bottom of the body member 12. When the needle 5 hits the thin hinge 32 of the gripper, it pushes the gripper downward into the narrowed area of the V-shaped interior 14. As a result, the gripper and sandpaper combination begins to close as the distance between the lips 30 decreases. This closing action is until the needle is pushed further down towards the bottom inside the V-shape, either by the sandwich effect as shown in FIG. 3B or by the so-called walnut effect, until the gripper closes enough to engage the needle. ,
It occurs gradually. Of course, it will be appreciated that how much the gripper slides towards the bottom inside the V-shape of the body member depends on the diameter of the needle 5. However, regardless of the diameter of the needle, the moderate downward force exerted on the needle towards the hinge 32 of the gripper 16 exerts a sufficient pushing and pinching force on the needle to prevent the needle from being withdrawn from the safety device. .

The safety device of the present invention is designed to minimize the risk of a user sticking a hand by moving the needle in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the needle and inserting the needle therein, but inadvertently sticking the hand. The risk of this can be further reduced by using the dispenser 40 shown in FIG. Figure 7
As shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser 40 includes an elongated rectangular housing 4 for holding a plurality of safety devices 10, eg, 20 to 25, such safety devices side by side.
Including 1. A push-out member 42 is provided for movement within the slot 44, and a plurality of display lines 46 are adjacent to the slot 44. The display line provides an external indication of the number of safety devices delivered to date. The safety device is contained within a panel which is slotted with an internal shelf drawer 45. The drawer is pushed by a flap 47 that is attached directly to the extrusion member 42. The wrist strap 48 may be connected to the dispenser housing at the end of the housing opposite the open end of the drawer 45. As for the housing, the safety device 10 can be
And allows a further distance between the user's hand holding the dispenser and the pointed end of the needle, thereby inadvertently piercing the hand or other part of the body with the used needle Obviously, it is designed to reduce the risk.

The second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
, Which is described below. With reference to FIGS. 8 to 12, the safety device 50 of the second embodiment includes a slotted end wall 56, a surrounding end wall 58,
And side wall members 60 facing each other. The slotted end wall 56 includes surrounding walls 56, 58.
There is a tapered slot 57 for receiving the needle, which is laterally placed in a rectangular inner chamber 61 formed in and 60. Three ratchet ribs 6 spaced along the inner surface of each end wall 60.
3 and each of the ratchet ribs 63 is provided with three longitudinally spaced ratchet teeth 64, 66 and 6
Have eight. An elongated flange 62 extends along the top of each wall 60 and projects toward the opposing wall. Each of the ratchet teeth 66 projects further into the chamber 61 than 64, and the teeth 68 project further into the chamber than the teeth 66. A pair of tapered ribs 7
Zeros are also provided adjacent to the bottom of the chamber 61, symmetrically spaced between the ratchet ribs 63, on the inner surface of each wall 60.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 13-16, safety device 50 also has a pair of outward facing lips at the upper end and a plurality of inward ridges 72. A gripper 54 is included. FIG. 13 shows a safety device 50 configured to receive an injection needle before the needle is inserted. In this configuration, the lip 71 of the gripper 54 is secured under the flange 62 to prevent upward vertical movement of the gripper. When the needle 75 (shown in three sizes in FIG. 14) exerts a downward force on the gripper, the lip 71 is gradually ratcheted down as shown successively in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, while Hinge 55
Bends further to further increase the grip relationship between the gripper ridge 72 and the needle shaft. Tapered ribs 70 further prevent inadvertent spreading of the gripper. The slots 53 that separate the wall 60 from each of the ends 56 and 58 provide a limited expansion of the chamber 61 to allow the tool to be withdrawn during injection molding. The gripper 54 is preferably homopolypropylene (ho
It is made from mopolypropylene), which at high temperatures is interspersed with aluminum oxide particles 77, which are retained in the soft surface of the plastic and increase the frictional engagement between the gripper and the needle. Since the relative position of the lip 71 is the compressed position for the teeth 64, 66 and 68 and the needle 75, a lever effect much like walnut splitting is obtained to hold and hold the needle firmly in the gripper. To be

What has been disclosed herein includes a new disposable safety device for an injection needle which satisfies all of the above objects of the invention and overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. Will be understood. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that various modifications and additions may be made to this invention using the teachings of this applicant. For example, the precise shape, dimensions and materials disclosed herein may be readily modified by the description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention and still achieve the advantageous results provided herein. Accordingly, all such modifications and additions are considered to be within the scope of the invention, which should be limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the present invention during insertion of an injection needle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing individual components of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the main body of the first embodiment with the cover removed, A showing the uppermost position of the gripper component and B showing the lowermost position of the gripper component.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the assembled configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the assembled configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the assembled configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of the dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the second embodiment.

10 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG.

11 is a cross-sectional view of the end taken along line 11-11 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is an external view of the end of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a view showing the interaction between the gripper and the internal chamber in the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view following FIG. 13, showing the interaction between the gripper and the internal chamber in the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a view following FIG. 14, showing the interaction between the gripper and the internal chamber in the second embodiment.

16 is a view following FIG. 15 and showing the interaction between the gripper and the internal chamber in the second embodiment. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Injection Needle 7 Syringe 10 Disposable Safety Device 12 Body Member 13 Slot 14 Internal Chamber 16 Gripper

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A device for laterally receiving and wrapping an end of an injection needle, the main body member having an elongated slot communicating with an interior chamber and positioned with the chamber to receive the needle. A gripping member for the gripping member, the gripping member having a pair of hinged planar portions, the planar portion being positioned against each of the opposing inner walls in the chamber, the planar portion being There is one lip on each of said planar portions, said inner wall having a plurality of ratchet teeth for receiving said lips, so that said gripping member is movable in only one direction, An apparatus for drawing the planar portions together to compressively grasp the needle therebetween. 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a high friction gripping material on the planar portion for frictionally engaging the needle. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the gripping material comprises particles of aluminum oxide. 4. An attachment device for a sharpened end of a needle, comprising: a hinged gripper for receiving the end of the needle; and a housing including the gripper within an elongated chamber. Has an elongated opening for receiving the needle and further on the end of the needle as the needle moves from the opening in the chamber in a direction substantially perpendicular to the gripper. An apparatus comprising means for closing the gripper about the hinge at. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a roughened material on the gripper for holding the needle. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the roughened surface material is aluminum oxide. 7. The device of claim 4, further comprising means for allowing the gripper to move only into the chamber to prevent the needle from being withdrawn from the device. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the movement permitting means includes a plurality of ratchet teeth on an inner wall of the chamber and a lip on the gripper. 9. A hypodermic needle safety system comprising a plurality of guards for attachment to a needle of a syringe to prevent inadvertent sticking of the needle after use of the syringe and prior to disposal of the syringe. , Each of said guards having a hinged gripping device for laterally receiving said needle for compressively engaging one of said needles, the system further comprising: A dispenser including means in series and having means for accessing one of said guards at a time, each of said guards for receiving said gripping device and by said gripping device by the force of said needle A system comprising a body member having an elongated chamber for closing the gripping device about the needle as it moves within the chamber. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the guards further includes ratchet teeth to allow movement of the gripper toward the interior of the chamber in only one direction. 11. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the gripping devices comprises a plastic material in which particles of aluminum oxide are embedded in a needle compression surface. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plastic material is homopolypropylene. 13. A device for surrounding the end of an injection needle, the body member having an elongated slot leading to a V-shaped internal chamber having a one-vertex end, and receiving the needle. A gripping member that is positioned with the chamber for providing a gripping member having a pair of planar portions joined by a hinge, the planar portion resisting each of the opposing inner walls within the chamber. The planar portion has a lip on each of the planar portions, and the inner wall has a plurality of elongated grooves for receiving the lip so that the gripping member is directed toward the tip. A device that can move in only one direction, thereby pulling the planar portions together to compressively grasp the needle therebetween. 14. The high friction gripping material on the planar portion for frictionally engaging the needle.
The apparatus according to item 3. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the gripping material comprises sandpaper. 16. The apparatus of claim 13, further including means for preventing movement of the gripping member in a direction parallel to the elongated slot. 17. An attachment device for a sharpened end of a needle, comprising a hinged gripper for receiving the end of the needle, and a housing containing the gripper in an angled chamber. , The chamber receives the needle and has an elongated opening having a distal end consisting of one apex, and the apparatus further comprises: as the needle moves within the chamber from the opening toward the apex, An apparatus comprising means for closing the gripper about the hinge on the end of the needle. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a roughened material on the gripper for holding the needle. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the rough surface material is sandpaper. 20. Further comprising means for preventing the gripper from moving parallel to the opening of the chamber.
The apparatus according to claim 17. 21. Further comprising means for allowing the gripper to move only towards the apex to prevent the needle from being withdrawn from the device.
The apparatus according to claim 17. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the movement permitting means includes a plurality of grooves in a wall of the chamber and a lip on the gripper. 23. A hypodermic needle safety system comprising a plurality of guards for attaching to a needle of a syringe to prevent inadvertent sticking of the needle after use of the syringe and prior to disposal of the syringe. , Each of said guards having a hinged gripping device for receiving said needles for compressively engaging one of said needles, the system further comprising a plurality of said guards in series. And a dispenser having means for accessing one of the guards at a time. 24. Each of the guards for receiving the gripping device and for closing the gripping device about the needle as the gripping device moves within the chamber by the force of the needle. 24. The system of claim 23, including a body member having a V-shaped chamber of.